Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-09

over her head. She was trembling like an
aspen leaf. Handsome young Tito, Gu
seppe's lad, stood near her with his arm in
sling and his uniform torn and dusty.
Pretty little Liza hung proudly on his
looks.
"Ecco la signorina," whispered the
crowd at the door.
Z" Eco" Tito bowed to Francesca, who
enveloped him in gaze of speechless en-
treaty.
1--WE have had glorious victory, signo-
rina. The Signor Antonio was the brayest
of the brave He laughed at danger.
Where the bullets fell thickest there was
the Signor Antonio But-the gallant sig
nor is much wounded, signorina. A can
non ball took of his left arm. He is in
the hospital, and they say he will recover.
II Garibaldi shook hands with our signor.
II Signor Re has visited him in the hos
pital"
The terrible tension of suspense was
over. He was alive. What mattered any
thing 50 that he yet lived
And the victory, signorina The Carl
baldini have gained the day everywhere" =
Francesca threw herself on her knees by
Annunziata and drew the apron from her
face. The throng melted away from the
OOOl. PhlACA VIZ OtN - NNAASAA- AASeaA
down upon her bosom.
"Nunziata-Nunziata, mia" she sobbed.
Annunziatas heart was soothed-thus
rocked in the arms of the child she had re-
ceived into the world. They mingled their
tears and lamentations, while the poor pro-
fessore looked on with moist, peering eyes
and a sympathy he knew not how to ex-
press.
'Ecco our Signor Antonior' screamed
Annunziata from the window, frantically
waving her handkerchief.
He had come!
A shadow darkened the portico, and An
tonic walked out into the rich, broad light.
Francesca stood motionlesS and spellbound.
Her heart shrank with a sudden, agonizing
pain, as she saw in rapid glance the
change wrought in his fine figure and hand
some face. A sharp stab of irreparable sor-
row pierced her when she noticed the emp
ty sleeve pinned across his breast. Were
those pale, wasted cheeks Antonio's? The
CHASTITY creases and scars on his neck turned
her sick with pity. Her soul was swept
by great winds of remorse and yearning
and devotion.
She stretched out her little hands as she
darted toward him.
"Tonio, Tonic, il milo Toniop y she cried.
She looked up to him, and deep love and
trembling and fear were like chasing lights
on her face. All ! his eyes were the same.
Those tender eyes were homes of rest.
Cescarina," he said softly, and they
were locked in close embrace.
why do you tremble, Tonic mio?"
she asked.
There was no answer But Antonio
bent down and kissed her lips.
The birds as they flew in and out of the
branches, the flowers that sprang under
the blue expanse above the cicada chirp-
ing in the grass, the green and copper-col
ored lizards basking in the sun-all these
bright things knew that Francesca had al
ways loved Antonio, although her imagin-
ton had been dazzled and her vanity flat
tered by the brilliant stranger.
great calm came down on Francesca as
her head nestled against Antonio's breast,
with his big arm wound protectingly round
her. 1t was peace and love. Life would
never more be torn by stormy passions,
or tortured by wounded pride and humbled
maiden modesty.
Dear, dear Antonio: brave, true soul
She would never tease him again by child
ish caprice.
From the deep arched-heavens fell voices
uttering the inetfable word love. The wind
mumured in the trees and the leaves whis-
pered peace. The scent of the rich red
roses was love, and the perfume of the
chaliced lilies peace. The crisp splash of
the fountain as it broke and lost itself in
the marble basin was ripple of love. The
sunbeams as they glanced and trembled in
the radiant air were threads from the weav-
ing of love ana peace that lies deep in the
infinite heart of things.-Iime.